Ditcher and grader.



E. B. KEARNS.

DITCHER AND GRADER. APPLICATION TILED NOV- 29, 1915.

1 1 98,35 5 Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET ms ummls Fzrsu cu. macro-grub uusnmc mm D. c.

E. B. KEARNS.

DITCHER AND'GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. ms.

Patented Sept. 12,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi bneooeo 7 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST B. KEARNS, OF GUNNISON, UTAH.

DITCHEE AND GRADER.

Application filed November 29, 1915.

To all whom it may (071(16'2'71 Be it known that I. ERNns'r B. KEARNs, citizen of the United States, residing at Gunnison. in the county of Sanpete and State of Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ditchers and Graders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ditchers and graders and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a ditcher and grader of simple and durable structure adapted to be used to advantage for cleaning and building ditches, canals and the like and which may also be used to advantage for building or repairing roads.

lVith these objects in view the ditcher and grader comprises beams hingedly connected together at their forward ends and provided beyond their point of hinged connection with. a share adapted to be adjusted with relation to the beams, there being means provided for holding the share at an adjusted position. Cross bars are pivotally connected at their outer ends with the said beams and the said bars at the opposite sides of the machine are adjustably connected together at their inner ends. A vane is connected with one of the said beams and has an end portion projecting beyond the end of the said beam and at an angle with relation to the beam. The said vane is adapted to spread the material which is cast up by the said beam. A gage plate is adj ustably mounted upon the other beam and may be positioned to hold the beam with which the vane is connected at a desired angle with relation to a horizontal.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of the ditcher. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the side opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. at is a longi tudinal sectional view looking at one side. Fig. 5 is a similar view looking at the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation of the ditcher. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

The ditcher and grader comprises a right hand beam 1 and a left hand beam 2. These beams may be made of wood or metal and are provided at their forward ends with knuckles 3 which are hingedly connected together by means of a hinge pin 4. The beams 1 and 2 are providedat their upper Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 64,191.

and lower' edges with longitudinally disposed outstanding flanges 5, the said flanges being disposed at obtuse angles with relation to the outer surfaces of the said beams. In the event that the beams 1 and 2 are -formed from wood, the said flanges are in the form of strips which may be applied thereto as shown. Cross bars 6 are pivotally connected at their outer ends with the beams 1 and 2, the inner portions of the said cross bars overlapping each other. The cross bars 6 are provided at their inner ends with sleeves 7 and the sleeve on one cross bar slidably receives the next adjacent cross bar. The cross bars 6 are provided with perforations 8 adapted to receive pins 9 whereby the said cross bars are adjustably held with relation to each other. It is apparent that by removing the pins 9 from the perforations 8, the said cross bars 6 may be slid longitudinally with relation to each other and the beams 1 and may be positioned at a desired angle with relation to each other.

hen the said beams are at a desired angle, they are held by inserting the pins 9 in the registering perforations 8- 0f the cross bars 6.

Eyes 10 are mounted at the upper portions of the beams 1 and 2 and in the vicinity of the rear ends thereof and an eye 11 is mounted upon the uppermost cross bars 6 of the rear set of cross bars. The said eyes 10 and 11 are adapted to receive lifting beam 12 whereby the device may be lifted out of a ditch or lowered into the same, whereby the depth of the cut of members 1 or 2 may be regulated.

A lever 13 is fulcrumed upon the pin 4 and carries at its forward end a share 14 which is located in advance of the forward ends of the beams 1 and 2. Notch bars 15 are pivotally connected at their outer ends with the beams 1 and 2 and slidably engage each other. The notch bars 15 are provided at their upper edges with notches 16 into which the lever 13 may spring whereby the said lever and the share carried by the lever is held at an adjusted position with rela tion to the beams 1 and 2. A bracket 17 is mounted at the rear end of the beam 1 and the inner side thereof and carries a pin 18. A vane 19 is provided at its forward side with eyes 20 which receive the pin 18 and the said vane is provided at its forward end portion with a loop 21 which receives the pin 9 which connects the rearmost cross bars 6 together. The vane 19 is positioned at an angle with relation to the beam 1 and is held by the eyes at an angle with relation to a horizontal. The rear end of the vane 19 projects behind the rear end of the beam 1.

A plate 22 is adjustably mounted at the inner side of the beam 2 and is held at an adjusted position upon the said beam by means of a bolt or set screw 23. The plate 22 is adjustable transversely of the beam 2 and the lower end of the said plate projects below the lower edge of the beam 2. The beams 1 and 2 are provided at their forward ends with openings 24c with which a clevis 25 may be connected by means of a coupling pin 26. A draft chain 27 is connected with the clevis 25 and may be connected with a draft bar or draft animals in any suitable manner. The beam 1 is provided at a point between its ends with an opening 28 and one end of the chain 27 may be connected with the beam 1 at the said opening when it is desired to distribute the draft strains along the beam 1.

Then the device is used for cutting a ditch or cleaning out one, the draft strain is applied directly to the forward ends of the beams l and 2 by applying the clevis 25 to the said beams and securing the same in position by fastening the pin 26 through the clevis and one of the openings 24: at the forward ends of the beam. As the implement moves along the ditch, the beam 2 travels at the bottom of the ditch and the beam 1 is disposed up along one side of the ditch. The beam 1 casts a furrow slice or material from the lower portion of the ditch up and above the edge thereof and the vane 19 following immediately behind the beam 1 spreads the material beyond the side of the ditch. The share 1% is positioned at a desired angle with relation to the beams 1 and 2 to out the material at the bottom of the ditch at a desired depth. The material so cut moves along the side of the beam 1 and is cast up beyond the edge of the ditch as just described.

hen the device is used for mending or building a road, the draft chain 27 is connected with the beam 1 at the opening 28 thereof and thus the device is moved. along the road way and the flange at the lower edge of the beam 1 cuts into the material at the surface of the roadway and the said material moves toward the rear end of the said beam where it is deposited in a row along the roadway. A shoe 29 is pivotally attached at the rear side of the beam 1 and is provided at one edge with teeth 30. A pivoted pawl 31 is mounted at the rear side of the beam 1 and may engage in the teeth whereby the shoe 29 is held at a desired angle with relation to the beam 1. By positioning the shoe 29 at a desired angle the flange at the lower edge of the beam 1 may cut at different depths below the surface of the soil. By shifting the plate 22 upon the beam 2 its lower end may be projected below the lower edge of the said beam, thus the said plate may enter the soil below the beam and steady the ditcher when in operation.

From the above description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that a ditch-er and grader of simple and durable structure is provided and that the parts may be easily and quickly adjusted with relation to each other to cause the operating parts of the device to efliciently engage the material for the purpose of moving the same either in forming a ditch or in building or repairing a road.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A ditcher comprising beams pivotally connected together, cross bars connected at their outer ends with the beams and overlapping each other at their inner portions, a pin for securing the cross bars at adj usted positions with relation to each other, and a vane mounted on one beam, and bearing against said pin.

2. A ditcher comprising beams pivotally connected together, cross bars connected at their outer ends with the beams and overlapping each other at their inner portions, a pin for securing the cross bars at adjusted positions with relation to each other, and a vane pivotally connected with one of the beams and having a loop which receives said pin.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST B. KEARNS. \Vitnesses 1 H. G. EmoKsoN,

C. 1W1. Enwanns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. C. 

